Week 31 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Week 31 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

2012-13 Week 31 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A.
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 31 (April 22-28) Analysis: May sweeps has started since Thursday and that means we're down to the final month of 2012-13 TV season. Mon-Wed of this week was filled with many repeats, but now since Thursday we're all-new the rest of the month to close the season. We don't have final network averages for Thursday yet, but we have final program averages below. We can project, through the first four night network averages, CBS is in first in HH/total viewers but Fox on top in adults 18-49. For second place in 18-49, it's a battle between NBC and CBS, with ABC trailing. In HH/viewers, CBS has the lead over ABC, with Fox, edging fourth place NBC, we can project. When the week is done, it should be Fox with the 18-49 win. CBS will edge NBC for second. ABC will be fourth still with repeats airing primarily. CBS will take total viewers for sure. More on that later. As for the previous week, week 30, Fox took home first in adults 18-49 with a 1.89 rating, compared to a 1.84 for second place NBC, with CBS right behind with a 1.77. ABC was in repeats for many of their big hits and had to settle for a 1.43. Among total viewers, it was of course CBS on top easily over second place ABC. Fox and NBC battled for third, with Fox with the edge in total viewers but NBC had the edge in HH rating.

Monday had NBC win easily over ABC and Fox. But first, ABC started with a two-hour Dancing with the Stars from 8-10pm and did 13.77 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, which is back down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Then Castle was all-new at 10 and did 11.76 million and a 2.3 18-49 rating, up three tenths in 18-49 week-to-week for a first place finish. For NBC, they had the two-hour The Voice from 8-10pm that did 14.15 million and a 4.9 18-49 rating, which is down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's season high. At 10pm, NBC aired Revolution and did 5.88 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, for a series low and down a full point in 18-49 from previous week's NBC News special. Not good news. CBS was in repeats primarily, with a repeat of How I Met Your Mother starting it off with 4.16 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. At 8:30pm, Rules of Engagement was all-new actually and did 5.11 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a series low. At 9, a repeat of the falling 2 Broke Girls did 5.12 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, not good. At 9:30pm, a repeat of Mike & Molly also was lower than normal with 5.29 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating. CBS needs some life on this night next season. At 10pm, Hawaii Five-0 was a repeat and did 5.21 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. Fox aired a new episode of Bones at 8 and it did 7.06 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. At 9pm, the penultimate episode of new drama The Following at 9pm did 7.04 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, which is up three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's series low. Season finale is tomorrow night. The CW aired a new Oh Sit! at 8 and did 0.86 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating, which is down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's season premiere. At 9, 90210 was new and did 0.49 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating, horrible but actually up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's return.

On Tuesday, CBS took the night as a Voice-fueled NBC wasn't enough for NBC. On CBS, NCIS was new at 8 and did 17.33 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is good but below normal again. At 9pm, a new NCIS: Los Angeles did 14.22 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, showing strong retention from its lead-in. At 10pm, week nine of Golden Boy in this slot did 7.94 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week and couldn't even win its hour. On ABC, at 8pm the sixth week of Splash did 4.87 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. Go Nicole Eggert! At 9pm, Dancing with the Stars: The Results did 12.65 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week, as we said goodbye to Victor Cruz. A new Body of Proof aired at 10pm and did 9.35 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which was up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week, winning the hour. It deserves a chance to return next again again, perhaps in mid-season on like a Friday or Saturday. Would benefit ABC Studios for syndication, too. NBC aired the Tuesday The Voice from 8-9pm and did 12.78 million and a 4.1 18-49 rating, easily #1 in the time period but down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Tuesday high. At 9pm, a two-hour showing of Eva Longoria-produced reality show Ready for Love only did 2.86 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, which is horrible and down a tenth in 18-49 from its previous week. It is now pulled and no idea if the remaining episodes will air yet. Fox started with Hell's Kitchen at 8 and did 4.83 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week as this is a good option against the NBC juggernaut. At 9pm, New Girl was a repeat again and did 2.36 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week's encore. At 9:30pm, a repeat of The Mindy Project did 1.81 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 week-to-week The CW aired a new Hart of Dixie and did 1.1 million and a 0.4 18-49 rating, again down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. A repeat of America's Next Top Model at 9 did 0.67 million and a 0.3 18-49 rating, up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.

Wednesday it was Fox with the win over CBS thanks to American Idol, as it airs two-hours every Wednesday and Fox only programs 2 hours a night. But first, CBS started the night off with a new Survivor: Caramoan at 8 doing 10.31 million and a 2.9 18-49 rating, up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week for another season high. Now the competition returns, so it might be steady or go down. Criminal Minds was a repeat at 9 and did 5.9 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week and below what it usually can do for a repeat. At 10pm, CSI was also a repeat and did 7.76 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, built on its lead-in and up two tenths in 18-49 from previous week's Elementary repeat in the hour. That old faithful can beat the newbie anyway. ABC kicked off the night with a repeat of The Middle doing 4.76 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating. A special 8:30pm repeat of Modern Family was next doing 4.38 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating. Look for new series Family Tools in this timeslot this Wednesday at 8:30pm. Our review will be posted on Tuesday. At 9pm, a repeat of Modern Family at its normal time did the best of the block with 5.35 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. The fourth episode of How To Live With Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) followed at 9:30pm with 4.81 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week. A little concerning, but it has four weeks of new episodes of Modern as lead-in beginning this week. Look for our review of this week's episode on Wednesday...Sarah Chalke in lingerie! At 10pm, Nashville was a repeat and did 2.97 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, on par in 18-49 with previous week. New episodes return this Wednesday! On Fox, a two-hour American Idol did a solid 12.46 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week despite the many repeats in competition. Onto NBC a new Dateline started it off at 8pm with 5.57 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which was up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. Law & Order: SVU followed at 9pm with a new episode that did 7.35 million and a 1.9 18-49 rating, as that is fool's gold since its main competition was in repeats. At 10pm, Chicago Fire was a repeat and did 3.99 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. The CW aired a new episode of its hit Arrow and did 3.1 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating. At 9pm, a new Supernatural did 2.38 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, as usual - solid and younger-skewing.

On Thursday, it was CBS with the win to start off May sweeps, but they were below normal. Starting with ABC, a new Wife Swap aired and did 3.42 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week, as its season finale is this Thursday. At 9pm, Grey's Anatomy was all-new and did 8.24 million and a 2.7 18-49 rating, good enough to win its hour. The nine-year old series still has legs, mustering a sophomore drama on CBS and slumping shows on Fox and NBC. At 10pm, ABC aired an all-new episode of TV's #1 show at 10pm Scandal doing 7.9 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, tying a series high in adults 18-49. Wow...this show could explode even more next season and perhaps the season finale this year will be over a 3 easily. CBS at 8pm had a new The Big Bang Theory did the best of course with 15.05 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, easily winning its timeslot and #1 scripted series of the week (but not #1 program, as The Voice took that). Two and a Half Men followed with a new episode at 8:30pm with 11.32 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is a season low. At 9, Person of Interest was new at 9pm and did 13.22 million and a 2.4 18-49 rating, as it couldn't top the hour with a stronger lead-in. It's just an older skewing series and CBS needs to move it to lower-profile slot like Tuesdays at 10. At 10pm, Elementary was new and did 10.07 million and a 2.0 18-49 rating, as it can't even compete with Scandal anymore. Fox had American Idol from 8-9pm and did 11.4 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which was again down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Glee was new at 9 and did 5.24 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, again down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. It's getting crushed when it has competition. NBC mostly aired new episodes of its comedies, as a new Community did 2.33 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, which is down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week tying its low. A special rerun of The Office at 8:30pm did just 1.84 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 week-to-week. At 9pm, a new episode of The Office did only 3.25 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, which is below normal and only on par in 18-49 with previous week's Parks & Rec in the timeslot. At 9:30pm, a new episode of Parks & Recreation aired and did 2.59 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. At 10pm, NBC aired week four of new drama Hannibal doing just 2.4 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a series low. People were giving it props when it went up but those people don't know what they're talking about since it was up against zero new programming. Now it finally faced new shows and dropped like a rock. It is Friday-bound if anything next season. The CW's big gun Vampire Diaries aired at 8 and was all-new doing 2.24 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, as that is below average for this series but on par in 18-49 with previous week. At 9, Beauty and the Beast was also new and did 1.24 million and a 0.5 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. It was picked-up for a second season, but I bet it will be on the move to another night.

Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but we have prelim ratings. On Friday, CBS barely took the night but ABC had the top show as usual. At 8pm, Undercover Boss on CBS easily won its hour over second place Kitchen Nightmare on Fox. NBC's Fashion Star and ABC's Happy Endings were way behind. At 9pm, Friday's #1 show was new and of course that is ABC's Shark Tank and it crushed the competition. Grimm was a distant second for NBC, followed by Vegas on CBS and Fox's Touch was way behind. At 10pm, CBS drama Blue Bloods edged out a low-rated win over newsmags 20/20 on ABC and Rock Center with Brian Williams on NBC (which was a distant third).
Saturday had Fox win the night with NASCAR coverage. ABC, NBC, and CBS were all low. Fox preempted Cops and a repeat of The Following. NBC settled for a new Smash at 8pm that was dead last, well it tied a CBS special on Floyd Mayweather. ABC's third week of new game show Bet On Your Baby did second at 8pm. At 9pm, a repeat of The Voice was tied for second and a repeat of SNL at 10 grew from it but NBC was still second place. From 9-11pm, ABC aired the movie Over the Hedge and was tied for second at 9 and was third at 10. CBS took the 10pm hour with 48 Hours and was tied for second at 9 with a repeat of Criminal Minds.

Tonight ABC Sunday is all-new from 7-11pm. All-new episodes of AFV, Once Upon a Time, Revenge and Red Widow air! Once should do well and we have a big Revenge episode. I think it will be a second place finish for ABC, but 10pm could be troublesome. NBC devotes the night to The Voice repeats from 7-9pm, which will struggle a bit then a new Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars from 9-11. NBC will likely finish in third. CBS has 60 Minutes at 7, followed by new episodes of Amazing Race, season finale of The Good Wife & The Mentalist, which will likely be a fourth place finish since it skews old. Fox's animation block is all-new from 7:30-10pm, and could be enough to win the night. Family Guy should top the night over Once, Amazing Race and Revenge.

As for the week (week 31), Fox will take the week in 18-49 over CBS I think because of the consistent performance on Saturday and tonight. CBS will likely be in second in 18-49, followed by NBC and ABC. For total viewers, CBS will remain first. ABC will be second over Fox, followed by NBC in a competitive fourth. As for the coming week (week 32), it's the first full week of May sweep, so now game is on and we'll know who is strong or not. Highlights include season finales for Fox Monday tomorrow night and the Tuesday premiere of Grimm on NBC at 10pm opposite the highly anticipated interview with Amanda Knox on ABC. The series premiere of Family Tools on ABC Wednesday at 8:30pm. On Thursday we have season finales of Wife Swap on ABC and Parks & Recreation on NBC, while on Friday its the finale of Happy Endings on ABC from 8-9pm and Cops on Fox next Saturday.

Week 31 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Week 30 -- April 15-21)

The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat at 8 did 3.67 million and a 1.57 18-49 rating, which was almost close to the new airing's ratings from the previous week.
The Cleveland Show (Fox) - Its normal time of 7:30pm was new and did 2.02 million and a 0.88 18-49 rating, down like three tenths in 18-49 from previous week's 1.2 18-49 rtg.
Bob's Burgers (Fox) 2 airings - The 8:30 airing was new and did 3.74 million and a 1.72 18-49 rating, up like a tenth in 18-49 from previous week despite the lead-in being a repeat. Good sign. A repeat at 7pm did only 1.56 million and just a 0.61 18-49 rating, down around a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.
Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat at 9 did 4.07 million and a 1.84 18-49 rating, which was still the best of the block.
American Dad! (Fox) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 3.81 million and a 1.77 18-49 rating, which is down around three tenths in 18-49 from previous week.

Monday Sitcoms

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - A repeat averaged 4.16 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, which is below normal.
Rules of Engagement (CBS) - A new showing did 5.11 million and a 1.6 18-49 rating, which is down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week for a series low, though it followed a repeat.
2 Broke Girls (CBS) - A repeat struggled with 5.12 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, which is below normal.
Mike & Molly (CBS) - At 9:30pm, a repeat of this show built on its lead-in in total viewers with 5.29 million but just a 1.3 18-49 rating. CBS Monday is struggling in 2013.

Tuesday Sitcoms

New Girl (Fox) - A repeat did 2.36 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is up a tenth in 18-49 from previous week.
The Mindy Project (Fox) - A repeat of this show did only 1.81 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, but on par in 18-49 with previous week.

Wednesday Sitcoms

The Middle (ABC) - A repeat posted 4.76 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which is OK.
Family Tools (ABC) - Series premiere is this Wednesday at 8:30|7:30c!
Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 9 did 5.35 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, which is down two tenths in 18-49 from previous week. A special repeat leading in at 8:30pm did 4.38 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
How To Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) (ABC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 4.81 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, down five tenths in 18-49 from previous week, but this episode followed a repeat again. Now the next four weeks it will follow new episodes, and if it can do a 2.5+, it will be back next season in this timeslot.

Thursday Sitcoms

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - A new episode at 8pm posted 15.05 million and a 4.5 18-49 rating, which is excellent as usual but a bit below normal.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - A new episode followed with 11.32 million and a 2.8 18-49 rating, which is below normal as well and a season low.
Community (NBC) - A new episode did just 2.33 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, down three tenths in 18-49 from previous week. I don't think NBC will bring it back. Perhaps Comedy Central?
The Office (NBC) 2 airings - A special repeat at 8:30pm did just 1.84 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, down a tenth in 18-49 from previous week. The 9pm airing was all-new, but it did forgetful 3.25 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as this show is limping towards the finish.
Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A new episode at 9:30pm did 2.59 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating, not good at all...down four tenths in 18-49 from previous week. Heck, even lower than what it was doing at 8:30pm.

Friday Sitcoms

Happy Endings (ABC) 2 episodes - An all-new episode at 8pm struggled with just a prelim 2.22 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating for a series low. A second episode did a bit better in 18-49 but did just a prelim 1.8 million and a prelim 0.6 18-49 rating. If ABC passes, I hope USA or TBS or anyone picks it up. It's such a good show.

Saturday Sitcoms

None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are a new episodes of Fox Animation Domination comedies from 7:30-10pm, following an encore at 7.

Summing it up. The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Modern Family, were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as How To Live With Your Parents, The Office) or just plain terrible (such as Parks & Recreation, Community).

Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Monday, May 29

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to What Used to be the Neighborhood" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Calvin’s favorite restaurant closes and is replaced by a flashy pet spa, he worries the community is losing too many small businesses and starts a campaign to only buy local. Also, Tina helps Necie prepare a special surprise for Marty.

Bob Hearts Abishola - "Your Father's Kingdom" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abishola turns to Gloria and Kemi when Bob mortgages their home to pay for a new factory space. Also, Kemi worries that she and Chukwuemeka are losing their spark.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 29)

Monday, May 29

Seth Rogen (Platonic/Undeclared) - Watch Seth on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Nicole Byer (Grand Crew/Loosely Exactly Nicole) - Nicole is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Keanu Reaves (Swedish Dicks) - Keanu appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men/Togetherness) - Melanie is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
James Spader (The Office) - James appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ms. Pat (The Ms. Pat Show) - Ms. Pat is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Brett Gelman (Fleabag/Married/Go On) - Brett is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Tichina Arnold (The Neighborhood/Survivor's Remorse/Happily Divorced/Everybody Hates Chris/Martin) - Tichina appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin is a guest on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about MSNBC's Leguizamo Does America on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) - Eric talks about Shudder and AMC+'s Slasher: Ripper on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Method Man (Method & Red) - Method Man tells Sherri about his role in Sanaa Lathan’s directorial debut, On the Come Up, on a repeat of Sherri, so check your local listings.